Downtown transportation and housing project plans on display at IDS

New transportation and housing project plans designed to enhance downtown Minneapolis will be on display at the 13th annual Building Community Exhibition, set for Aug. 20 - 22 in the IDS Crystal Court, 701 Nicollet Mall. The event features scale models, pictures and maps of new commercial, housing and transit developments along with noon hour lectures on development topics.

One of the most dramatic visuals on display will be The Interchange, a new multi-level, transit pedestrian plaza now under construction next to Target Field. The Interchange is the first development of its kind in the world. The transit plaza is scheduled to open in 2014 in coordination with the opening of the Central Corridor line. The Interchange will be situated for easy connections between light rail, the North Star train, nearly 2,000 daily buses, skyways and bike trails. On the scaled model, visitors will see the “Great Lawn,” a green community space to counter balance the transit hub, plus an amphitheater and space for retail and eateries. A sleek metal roof extending 300 feet long over the transit area will give the Interchange a strong modern feel.

A new residential project — Nicollet Residences at 5th — for the east end of Nicollet mall will also be unveiled to the public at the exhibition. These high-rise luxury apartments that will be located at 5th and Nicollet aim to fortify a weak end of the downtown area. The apartments will have a skyway link over Marquette Avenue, and provide an additional Light Rail Transit shelter at 5th Street.

Exhibition hours

Monday, Aug. 20:11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 21: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 22: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Noon hour lectures

All lectures are free and open to the public. The 15-minute lectures begin at noon and are followed by a 15 minute question and answer session.